Romans 5:1-11
Be Still: Lord, I give this day – and this moment – to you. Help me turn my attention from life’s distractions towards you and your presence. (Pause, close your eyes, and breathe.) Come, lead and guide me today. I invite you into the depths of my heart.
Read: Romans 5:1-11
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (v3-5)
Encounter: Western culture at large tells us to avoid suffering at all cost. Work hard to protect yourself, plan and prepare so things don't go wrong, look after yourself so you don't get sick. And, sure, that makes a lot of sense – I don't think anyone willingly runs toward suffering. However, there does seem to be a void in mainstream society of people talking about how much we can grow through our suffering.
Our youngest recently learned to crawl: it took a lot of struggle, a lot of frustration, a lot of suffering when her little arms gave up because they weren’t yet strong enough. Her older siblings kept wanting to pick her up and help her get where she wanted because they didn’t like that she was sad – but we had to teach them to understand that if we picked her up and took away the struggle, she’d never learn to crawl.
Paul’s encouragement to us is bold: don't just endure suffering, knowing you’ll grow – glory in it! That’s hard to do, but the reason is significant. Because when we suffer, it produces godly character and godly hope. I probably wouldn’t choose to suffer, but if I am suffering, it’s a huge comfort to me to know that God will be growing my character and hope through it.
Apply: Are you facing any struggles, battles or sufferings at the moment? Can you see how God might be growing you, what he might be birthing or strengthening in you? Suffering tends to make us feel weak, but how amazing that his ‘power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor 12:9).
Devote: Jesus, I bring before you my struggles, pain and heartache – (take a moment to reflect on them and lift them to Jesus). Thank you that you work through suffering, help me to see what you are doing, the character you are building. Deposit joy in my soul today.